What Is A Herbal Distillate?

by adminOctober 21, 2018

The process that many plants and particles go through in order to become the oil that we enjoy using is quite complicated. Though essential and botanical oils have been around for quite some time, they are gaining even more popularity as of late because of their effectiveness and so many people's resolve to lead more natural, organic lives.

Similarly, a practice that has mirroring applications is something called herbal distillate. These liquids are essentially herbal waters, floral water, essential waters or hydrosols. They are formed when there is a distillation process used primarily with steam and plants/herbs. Herbal distillates are used in medicines, flavoring and specific skin care.

Many herbal distillates are used the way that essential oils are. If you are using a specific oil for your depression or anxiety, you may add some drops to a humidifier or diffuser for relief. With the herbal distillates you would do the same thing except the consistency of the product is water as opposed to oil. This can sometimes work really well because oil and water don't mix. However, hydrosol water will easily mix with the water that is needed to run the device. It will potentially last longer as well because the water is able to be evenly distributed unlike oil which stays relatively solid as it moves around the water.

During the actual process of producing the herbal distillates, it goes through the identical process as oils. Only the distillates have the oil removed as it floats to the top. The reason why this occurs is because different types of substances vaporize at different speeds and temperatures. This means that the compounds within the distillate vaporize below the temperature of distillation. Hydrosols are produced at higher temperature rates and can sometimes be acidic, which means they inhibit bacterial growth. However, this isn't the case with fungal growth. For this reason they are often a fresh product and should be stored in the refrigerator in most cases.

Rose Water For Skin

Many floral water variations are used for a myriad of reasons. They can be used on the skin, similarly to essential oils, in order to provide it with vitamins and minerals that help mitigate specific skin issues. One of the most well-known types of herbal distillates is rose water. Rose water can be used on the skin as a natural air freshener or as a perfume. It is known to have incredibly hydrating effects on the skin, so if you struggle with dry skin then this is a great first option to add to your skin care regimen.

Perfumes can sometimes be too strong and often have chemicals in them that cause unsavory side effects such as headaches or rashes. With herbal distillates this is less likely to be the case. There are a myriad of plants and herbs that have aromatic scents that double as a lovely perfume and aren't necessarily strong or overpowering. So the next time you are looking for a scent that's easy, light and one note, try a herbal distillate. You'll be surprised at how truly refreshing they are.